Bernardo Silva sets 'first-choice' new club amid Atletico Madrid links

Manchester City captain Bernardo Silva celebrates 2025/26 FA Cup win.

Portugal international Bernardo Silva is assessing several offers from new clubs as he prepares to leave Manchester City as a free agent in June.

Portugal international Bernardo Silva is assessing several offers from new clubs as he prepares to leave City as a free agent in June.

The 31-year-old confirmed his intention to move on from Manchester this summer, when his contract expires at the Etihad Stadium, and he bid an emotional farewell to the City fans in their final home game of the 2025/26 campaign on May 24th.

Silva joins Pep Guardiola in looking for a new career chapter in the coming months after the pair won six Premier League titles and a UEFA Champions League together across nine years in English football.

As a free agent, Silva is on the radar of several major European clubs, with former side Benfica already tabling an offer to bring him back to Lisbon following the departure of Jose Mourinho to Real Madrid.

La Liga giants Atletico Madrid are also in the running to secure a deal for Silva, but Spanish rivals Barcelona are rumoured to be his first-choice pick, as per reports from The Times.

Barca signed Silva's former City teammate lkay Gundogan on a free transfer in 2023, following his exit from Guardiola's squad, and the Catalans are aiming for a similar agreement on a two-year contract.

A switch to the Camp Nou would involve a significant wage cut for Silva, with Barcelona's offer of 380,000 per week much lower than the proposal from Atletico, but his career ambition to play for Barca could be a difference maker.

The back-to-back La Liga champions have already completed their first piece of summer transfer business after landing an €80 million (369m) deal for Anthony Gordon, but no formal offer has been made to retain Marcus Rashford at this stage, after the England star netted 14 goals on loan with Hansi Flck's team last season.